The “Past, Present, and Future of the Livestock and Red Meat Sector” Summit in Sakarya took place with broad participation.
The Sakarya Commodity Exchange organized a program titled "The Past, Present, and Future of the Livestock and Red Meat Sector" at the Sakarya Social Development Center, where the current state of the sector and its roadmap for the future were discussed. The summit, attended by representatives from the public sector, academia, retail, and media, examined all stages of the chain from production to consumption.
In his opening speech, Mustafa Genç, Chairman of the Sakarya Commodity Exchange Board of Directors, emphasized that Sakarya, with its logistical advantages, fertile lands, and strong livestock tradition, holds a key position in Turkey's agricultural strategy. Stating that traditional methods are insufficient in today's world, Chairman Genç said that digitalization, sustainability, and high value-added production have become necessities.
Chairman Genç drew attention to the vital importance of the red meat and livestock sector for food supply security, price stability, rural development, and public health, saying, "No matter how big our problems are, there is no issue we cannot overcome with proper communication, strong cooperation, and determined steps. Every contribution made and every word spoken here today is a valuable step towards the future of our sector."
“93% of Turkey's Meat Needs are Met by Domestic Production”
Erkan Alkan, Deputy Director General of Livestock at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, stated in his speech that 93% of Turkey's meat needs are met by domestic production, while 7% is supplied through imports. Alkan said, “We are reducing imports every year. With the support models we are implementing, we aim to minimize or completely eliminate this rate.”
Alkan noted that Turkey ranks ninth in the world in red meat production, consisting of beef, buffalo, sheep, and goat meat, with 2,105,000 tons, and that they have transitioned to planned production and created a new productivity-focused support model.
Emphasizing that climate change directly affects agriculture and livestock farming, Alkan stated that water shortages are experienced in 11 provinces and 52 districts, seriously impacting both crop production and livestock farming. He also mentioned that livestock breeding areas have been established in 19 provinces, drawing attention to the importance of regional production planning.
Multi-Stakeholder Assessment
At the summit moderated by Celal Toprak, President of the Reliable Product Platform, Sakarya Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Asım Baş, Istanbul PERDER Board Chairman Rahmi Kartal, agricultural writer Gazi Kutlu, and gastronomy expert Biral Serttaş also shared their views.
Gastronomy expert Biral Serttaş stated that countries' food strategies change periodically and that Turkey needs to re-evaluate its production model. Expressing that macro-scale production is prominent in developed countries, Serttaş said, "We need to question whether we should focus on macro or micro-scale production. Should Turkey raise cattle or sheep? This should be considered a strategic decision."
Agricultural writer Gazi Kutlu stated that there are serious problems in the food sector both in Turkey and in the world, emphasizing the importance of increasing small ruminant livestock farming and improving pastures. He also stressed the need to direct young people towards agriculture, saying, “Because production is insufficient, imports are increasing and prices are rising. However, we have serious potential. We only need strong willpower and innovative projects.”
The summit concluded after the panelists answered questions from representatives of the red meat sector and livestock breeders in Sakarya.